Folding machine



FoLDING MACHINE ,l Filed June 2s. 192s 'z sheets-sheet 1 Figi.

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Oct. 28, 1924.

G. J. DORMANDY FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 2s, 1923 7 sheets-sheet 41.`

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40 y mi Garry d, ormundy A ys.

oct 9 I es. J. DORMANDY l 'FOLDING MACHINE med June 2s. 192s 7 'sheets-sheet s Fig.

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. Y 1,513,378 G. J. DORMANDY- FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 23 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fi g. 1l.

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lnvenTQ. Garry J.Do1^mundy by (Ragaz/1, lfvmq wu". Anya.

oct. 28 |924. y 1,513,378

G. J. DORMANDY FOLDING MACHINE J9 m97 y ya J0 Gun-y d. Dofmundy lio CLI

Patented 0st. 28, i924.

stele eran-Rv J. poniictnnnr, or einer, nrw venir. essrsivon fro Lion contexts 'a signers,

OF TROY, NEW' TIGRE, A COR-EORAVTION OF NEW YORK.

FO'LDlNG- MACHINE.

Application tiled June 23,

To all 'Ui/720m t 'may concer-n:

Be it known that l, Gennr J. Donararmr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have inven ed certain new and useful improvements in Folding Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This :invention relates to improvements in folding machines, more particularly folding machines used in the manufacture of collars and cuffs, in which the cloth blanks have to be first` folded in, entirely or partially around their margins, preparatory to the stitching together of two of such blanks. l. machine of this class is usually provided with a bed on which the successive blanks are placed, and a die or templet which is positioned upon the blanks, and infolders which move in from the sides to fold'the margins of the blanks over the edges of the templet, which defines the shape. klfleat and pressure are usually applied in order that the folds will be fixed or creased, as otherwise the material might fail to hold folded shape, giving considerable difficulty in the subsequent stitching operations.

VThe present invention pertains more particularly to the treatment of each folded blank after its disengagement from the bed, templet and infolders, and one feature of the present invention is that its mechanism may be a separate entity, adapted to be attached to and connected up with any desired folding' machine for the purpose of effecting the supplemental treatments referred to.

in important purpose of the present invention is to afford a convenient 'and ei. tive pressing of the blanks immediately after removal from what may be termed the main machine, and followed by a stacking or bunching of such finally pressed blanks. To this end my invention provides a mechanism which may be geared or otherwise connected to operate in coordination with the main machine, and which mechanism may receive 'each folded blank and give it a second or final pressing, thereafter feeding` and group ing or stacking the blanks in bunchesv of suitable size. As an example, the' present invention may be applied, as an attachment or otherwise, to a folding machine wherein ward with it, so that the folded blank may i readily be detached, by hand or otherwise, and quickly positioned upon the receiving member or pressure tablevof this invention. rlhe operations of pressing and stacking are herein shown synchronized with the movement-s of the templet and infolders in such a way that while the templet is elevated the operator may effect a rapid detachment from the templet of the folded blank, shifting it to the receiving member, and placing a new unfolded blank upon the bed of the main machine, to be defined by the templet and folded. ln this way as one blank is being folded, the preceding blank isbelingnfinally pressed, and the blank ahead o f that is being stacked or bunched.

Another purpose of the present invention .is to apply heat, in the second or final press-- ing, at the top of the blank, against the folds, thus giving a very effective creasing and lixing of the folds, andmoreover supplementing thensual pressing in the main machine, wherein heat applied by the bed, therefore from underneath. Another purpose is to af* ford an action of smoothing down the folds in the act of applying` the second or final pressing, thus insuring that any partly open folds will be laid down properly before the pressure is applied.

Another object of the present invention is to permit adjustments of mechanism for varying lengths and widths of blanks. A general object is to secure the recited advantages in a mechanism which will be durable and effective, and which will permit quicker operation and with less strain on the operator, and yielding a better product, than with folding machines heretofore known.

'Other objects and advantages will be elucidated in the hereinafter following description of one form or embodiment the invention or will be understood `to those .skilled in the art.

To the attainment of such objects and advantages the present invention yconsists in the novel folding machine, land the novel features ofconstruction, combination, opera.- tien, method, arrangement eee l illustrated .0r .de isha-1 1n the accompanying drawings what may be considered a left elevation of a folding machine embodying the principles oi" the present invention. an e l this machine may be adapted for the infoleting of collar bands, a long narrow shape requiring folds on all four sides. The main machine is herein shown only in a general way, without going into detail, as the details may be varied indennitely, and may be, for

example, as shown in my prior Patent 1, 094: of February 25, 1913, to which reference may be made for details not herein paf ularly described.

Fig. 2 is general top plan l machine shown in Fig. 1 with, however, 'the tcmplet, infolders and certain other parts omitted.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the present invention, showing very little of the man machine beyond the operating shaft and few frame parts.

rThe remaining figures show no parts o the main machine, but only the attachmen' or attached mechanism 'which embodies th features of the present invention.

Fig. L1- is a left elevation, partly in section on the line 41 of Fig. 3.

`Fig. 5 is a left elevation, partly in section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3, the parts at a dit ferent stage of operation than in Fig. t.

FiO'. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the parts in a still different stage of operation.

Fig. 7 is a similar view with the parts in a still different stage.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view the yielding support or plate of the stacking device.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View showing a detail of structure. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevation, partly in section on the line 10-10 of .n 1l is a general bottoni view wim rertain parts renioved.

Fig. 12 is top plan View of certain parts not sutliciently seen in 'F ig. 2.

Fig. 13 is a left elevation of certain parts, partly in section on the line 13,#13 of Fig. 12.

lfig. 111 is a bottom view of the member or bar 60 which is seen in top view in Fig. 2.

Fig. 15 is a similar but enlarged view, with parts omitted and others in a different position.

Fig. 16 is a partial rear elevation of 'the ora Leraars terior, upon which the unfolded blai 3 init .lly positioned. .L'Iit the extremity ci" swinging arm 22 is shown a die or temp. 23, adapted tc be lowered upon the blanlfs; so as to delinc 'them durin( the folding. w i swinging` of the templet may be 'through 70 connecting rod 2d, shown in 1 as cs2 tending downwardly to where a cam iiftfe and lowers it at the proper points in t cycle of operations. 1 suit-blc set of folders 26 is employed, these arranggijefl approach the die from different sides, so to fold the margins of the blanks over the thin edges of the die. The ac t tion of the infolders may bc through oper ing arms or levers 27 automatically in harmony with the other movements. infolders may be arranged to be depressed, namely by being connected with a descendlng crosshead 28 located considerably below the infolders. rlhe head 28 may be :forced downwardly by a cam 29.

Power may be derived from a shaft 30 which is shown carrying a worm 31 operat ing to turn a worm wheel secure-:l upon an operating` shaft The operating shaft, may directly carry the cam 29, and may be connected with the cam 25 b v gears El., and provided with or arranged to operate other or usual cams for the complete control and operation of the main machine. 9

The parts so far described, constituting the main machine` are not the subject of claim herein and as aforestated the details herein may be indefinitely modilied so long s the main machine operates to treat sr cessive blanks by infolding their edges, so that the blanks may be extracted and fed to the synchronized mechanism to which the Jresent invention more particularly relates.

rlhe novel mechanism hereof may obvious ly in some cases be built directly into thc main machine as a part thereof, but it is capable of being constructed as a separato entity or attachment which can readily bc removed bodily or can be applied to diffen ent machines. 1t is shown as an attachment, and as such it is secured to the main machine by triangular brackets 39 supported on upright frame parts 20. rlhe brackets 89 support the frame worlr of the new mecha nism` consisting of two opposite side castings 40 interconnected by suitable cross members`r including the cross rod i1, having an inclined upper edge for a purpose to bc described, and the cross rod 4t2 in the upper front part of the machine; also, here is a fixed cross plate i3 giving support to certain parts to be described.

The operation of the different parts of the attached mechanism is derived from the shaft la which is journaled in the side castings d() and carries the necessary cams, eti'. for the purposes of this invention. The

CJI

shaft ld is rotated in synchronism with the main machine by the following or equivalent mechanism. rlfhe operating shaft 33 is provided with a gear 45. This gear drives a pinion d6 which in turn drives a gear i7 keyed directly on the shaft ell. The pinion is a mere transmitting pinion and may b suitably mounted on a special bracket 4:8. lThe gears l5 and 47 are shown of the sam-e diameter so that the actuating shaft 4: makes one rotation for each rotation of the operating shaft 83. A correspondingly simple arrangement of transmitting gears will serve for applying the present invention to substantially any desired type of infolding machine, such gears being the only necessary operative connection between the attachment and the main machine, since the folded blanks are preferably transferred manually from the main machine to the attachment.

rl`he supplemental or final pressing of the blanks, after removal from the main machine, and prior to their bunching or stacking, is herein effected by squeezing pressure between two members which are preferably substantially horizontal, one beneath the other. The underneath presser member being substantially flat is adapted readily to receive the folded blanks removed freshly from the elevated templet. The upper presser member 60 is arranged to move relatively from above the under member so as to leave the under member open to receive the successive blanks. One of the two presser members may be fixed against up and down movement while the other moves up and down, and while the illustrated arrangement might be reversed, the under member is here shown as adapted to be lifted by power to press the successive blanks up- `wardly against the upper presser member. The two members are shown in the form of flat bars and as matter of terminology may be so referred to. The under member or bar being an active one in the pressing operation will be termed the presser bar 50. According to this invention the upper presser member or bar 60 is not only ntted properly to resist the upward pressure of the presser bar 50, but is arranged to move late ally from above the presser bar. This lateral movement is herein shown as a movement frontward from above the presser bar and rearward to posit-ion over the presser bar. This gives several advantages, among them that when the upper bar is at its forward position the presser bar is accessible forreceiving the blanks to be pressed and bunched. The operator has mere-ly to reach forward, extracting the blank from the templet and bringing it down, placing it directly on the flat top surface of the presser bar. The forward movement of the upper bar is herein also utilized for the purpose creasethe effectiveness of the pressing operation. lt is customary in folding machines to effect pressure of the blanks on the bed of the main machine, and this bed is customarily heated, so that the blanks are pressed with heat applied from below. ln the present invention l preferably heat the upper or feeder bar GO so that in t-he second or final pressing heat will be applied at the top,

thatv is to the folded edges. This greatly increases the effectiveness of' the pressing and the accuracy of the finally delivered blanks.

The remainder of the description will give the details of the presser bar and its` operations, and then the details of the feeder f bar with its various adyuncts and operations, and finally the construction of the parts constituting the stacking or bunching mechanism, including the centering device, and the actuation of the-se in coordination k.vit-h the parts previously described.

The presser bar 50 is fitted for upward and downward movement by means of a' sliding extension 5l, which may be inform of a loop or constructed with opposite slide bars which nt and slide between lined vertical guides 52. A special arrangement is shown wherein the loop or sliding extension 5l straddles the actuating `shaft Alli. parts described are best shownl in Figs. 3 and li. A strong spring 53, which is under compression, is arranged between the presser bar 50 and a fined underneathv support or shelf 54: so as to constantly force the presser bar upwardly. This spring gives the creasing pressure by which the blanks are pressed between the presser bar and the feeder bar. It is thereby possible to predetermine the pressure. Ellie depressing of the presser bar may be effected by a cam 55 mounted directly on the shaft lll and operating against a roller 56 mounted atthe lower part of the sliding loop 5l. Thecam 55 has a. dwell a holding the presser partly down, followed by a dwell holding it fully down, followed by a dwell c allowing it to rise fully to press the blank. The described elements 51 -to 56 are duplicated at the two sides of the machine so that in its movements the presser bar 50 will remain strictly horizontal and parallel to the feeder bar 60 above.

The presser bar 50 at its rear side has attached to ta wedge or cam 58 taking part in thegoperaton. of .smoothing the blanks,

later to be described. The top surface of the presse-r bar also is formed with two or more grooves 59 extending forwardly and rearwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and illustrated in Fig. 17, for the reception of the feed pins, later to be described.

The;` feeder bar 6() may be hollow and heated by means of internal electric coils indicated at 61 in Fig. 2. This box like bar is shown provided with a cover 62. The bar is intended to reciprocate frontwardly and rearwardly and for this purpose at its ends the bar is formed with guiding extensions 63, the ribs 64 of which entend into guiding engagement with grooves 65 in the side castings 40. This structure is best shown in Fig. 16.

There will now be described a convenient means of smoothing down any upstanding folds before the final pressure is actually applied. The end pieces 63 of the feeder bar 60 are formed at their lower' portions with flanges 66. These anges give support to the smoothing plates 67 and 68 at the front and rear respectively of the under side of Ithe feeder bar. Fig. 4 shows the plates 67 and 68 partly separated. Fig. 5 shows them fully separated. Fig. 6 shows them brought together. This movement takes place as the presser rises to apply pressure. The approaching movement of the smoothing plates operates to smooth and lay down the blank folds. As the presser comes up the plates move together so that the relative movement of the plates is an inward diagonal movement considered in relation to the blanks. Thus any partly opened fold can not accidentally be crushed down or wrinkled, but will be laid smoothly in and down in place before the squeezing occurs.

The mechanism by which the smoothing plates are operated will now be described. Each plate at each end is formed with an yoffset section or extension 69 engaging above the guiding flange 66, already mentioned. By this the smoothing plates are maintained snugly in contact with the under side of the feeder bar 60. Indeed they form its active pressing surface. The guiding and actuating of the two plates toward and from each `other may be by means of guide bars 70 and 71, each of these being duplicated near the two ends as indicated in Fig. 14, which is a bottom view. Fig. 15 shows the details on a larger sca-le, the smoothing plates being omitted but their positions indicated by dotted lines. The guide bars 7 O and 71 operate in grooves 72 at the under side of the feeder bar. The front smoothing plate 67 is attached to thel two guide bars 70 and the rear smoothing plate 68 is attached to the two guide bars 71. These bars are actuated simultaneously so as to cause the two plates simultaneously to approach.

This may conveniently be effected by means of a S-armed or T-lever 74, the ends of each of which engage in notches or recesses 75 in the bars 70 and 71A respectively. The T- lever is pivoted at 76, so that when swung it will throw one guide bar forward and the other rearward. The levers at the two ends are to be operated in harmony so that the two smoothing plates will approach or recede by the same operative action. Each T-lever 74 may be proviced with a rearwardly extending arm 77 by which it is swung. A pivot 78 is shown connecting the arm 77 with an offset portion 79 of a slide bar 80. 16 shows these parts in rear elevation. The symmetrically opposite slide bars 80 are movable endwise, being guided by pin and slot devices 61. Tn order to throw apart simultaneously the two slide bars 80 they are each provided with a roher S2, operated by the wedge or cam 58, already mentioned, secured to the rear side of the presser bar 50. By this arrangement, as the presser bar rises the wedge cam 58 throws apart the slide bars 80, thus operating the T-levers 74 and causing the smoothing plates to approach each other. This gives the described smoothing action. Springs 83 oppose this motion `and act to restore the smoothing plates when the presser subsequently descends. The inclined or cam surfaces of the wedge 58 terminate as shown and are succeeded by vertical surfaces in order that the presser bar may rise forcibly without any further tendency to move the smoothing plates toward each other, after the plates have substantially met.

For causing the bodily forward and rearward movements of the feeder bar the following convenient mechanism may be employed. Adjustably attached, by devices 84, to the actuating shaft 44 is a cam disk 65, see Figs. 5 and 6. This disk is formed with a cam groove 86 at its right side. This groove is formed with an eccentric portion f, concentric portion Z and eccentric portion c. A. cam roll 87 engages the cam and is mounted on a slide bar S8 which extends forwardly and in turn is connected by a link S9 with an upward lever 90. This lever is connected by a. link 91 with a lateral pin 92 arranged upon the guiding extremity of the feeder bar 66. The lever 90, link 91 and pin 92 are duplicated at the opposite side of the machine and the two levers are con nected to swing together by being both rigidly secured to a hollow shaft 94 extending `across the front of the machine.

Tn association with the feeder bar is herein provided a pushing or feeding device adapted to extend downwardly below the feeder bar so as to engage and push forwardly the completed blank when the feeder bar moves forwardly. This device might take various forms, such as a simple pivoted pawl, adapted tobecome operative for the forward movement and inoperative for the return movement. 1n this way the device will transfer each blank forwardly from pressing to stacking position and on the ret-urn movement will not interfere with the succeeding blank. The pusher device is herein shown in the form of a plurality of pins 97 adapted to extend downwardly below the feeder bar and their lower Jxtremities 98 adapted to engage in the grooves 59 in the top of the presser bar, as before mentioned. Fig. 17 shows the device before the presser bar has lifted. After lift-ing and pressing the presser bar drops partially whereupon, the feed pin 97 engaging in the groove 59 moves forwardly with the feeder bar and engages and carries forwardly the folded blank B. The two feed pins, near the opposite ends of ythe feeder bar, engage and nrove smoothly forward the comple-ted blank, delivering 1t to the stacking devices. i

Each feed pin 97 is fitted to slide vertically in the body of the feeder bar, and the upper end of the pin is pro-vided with an enlargementI or top piece 99, which may be screw engaged with the shank of the pin so as to permit vertical adjustment, a set screw 100 securing the parts in adjustment. The lower end of the. feed .pin must pass through the rear smoothingplate 68, as seen in Fig. 17, and said plate is slotted at 101 so as to accommodate the pin. A small plate 10Q, apertured for the passage of the feed pin, is secured to the feeder-bar so that when the smoothing plates are closed together a continuous surface will be presented for pressing purposes.

VIn order to lift the two feed pins and drop them simultaneously there are sho-wn a pair of rocker arms 1011 mounted on a rocker rod 105, seen in Figs. 2, 16 and 17, 'this rod being journaled in the end pieces 63 of the feeder bar. The arms 104 are yoked and engaged between upper and lower lugs formed on the top piece 99 of each feed pin. The rocking of the rod is controlled by an arm 106 secured at its right end, this arm having a cam roll 107 at its extremity cooperating with, a. switch cam 10S. The relation of these parts'` is well shown in Figs. 11 to 7. The switch cam may be a simple piece of metal inclined at both ends, as.

shown, and capable of rising and falling during operation, guided by a pin 109 engaging a slot 110. fit its front end the switch cam has a rearward incline 111 adapted to elevate the cam roll, and at its rear end a similar incline 112 adapted to cause the switch cam to rise and permit the ram roll to pass under. rllhese parts are accommodated in a. special upward extension 113 of the machinefframe. at the right side. A spring 1141 pulls upon the control arm 106 tending to hold it and the feed pins down. lll'hen the feeder bar 60 moves forwardly from the -lfigx l to the Fig. 5 positionthe cam roll 107 passes under the switch cam, the cam thereforevbeing` inoperative. l/Vhen the feeder bar moves reversely from the Fig. to the Fig. 6 position the roll passes up on the switch cam. llfhis rocks the arm 106 and the shaft 105, which causes the arms 104 to elevate the feed pins 97 so that as the feeder bar moves rearwardly the feed pins will not interfere with the blank lying on the presser bar ready to be pressed. lll-hen the roll passes off the switch` cam at the rear and the feed pins are allowed to drop, they will engage at the pro-per time in the grooves 59 of the presser bar, ras already descrilied. 1n the next forward movement they will contact and push the blank forwardly.

The operation to this point is substantially as: follows. The operator extracts the folded blank from the temp-let and del posits it upon the topsurface of thepresser bar. The feeder bar returning rearwardly comes above the presser bar, the feed pins being' elevated during this movement, but dropping' again behind the bla-nk. M The presser bar lifts .and as it'rises operates through the wedge cam to force the smoothing plates toward each other, smoothing' down the blank folds just in advance of the actua squeezing, which takes place forcibly between the presser bar and feeder bar'. The pressure is maintained fora considerable period, with heat directly on the folds.v The presser bar* is then partly lowered and thereupon the feeder bar starts forward, the feed pins running vin the grooves in the top surface of the presser bar. Thus the completed blank is pulled forwardly across the presser bar and from it at the front passes on to the devices which receive and stack or bunch the blanks, as now tol` be described.

The stacking devices comprise a pair o-f instruments which may be termed combs as each, of them is formed with a longitudinal bar, extending transversely of thel machine,

and a series of parallel projections or fingers which engage. and manipulate the successive blanks. From the presser bar each blank shifted directly upon the first or receiving comb 115, the blank being left there when the feeder bar moves rearwardly. The second comb 140 maybe termed the depressing or packing comb, it coming down upon the blank upon the receiving comb, and when the. receiving comb has been withdrawn in a forward direction, moving down further to depress and pack the blank on top of the blanks already received upon the viel ding stacker support or plate V170 beneath. The receiving comb resumes its former posi tion above the stacked blanks and depressing comb so that the latter may rise to its initial position, leaving the two combs in readiness for the reception and packing of the subsequent blank. After each blank has been received on the receiving comb and before the depressing comb has descended upon the blank centering plates or uprights 154 come into play moving toward each other from the ends and operating to properly align or center the blanks endwise so that they will be stacked in a uniform manner.

The receiving comb` is seen in top view in Fig. 2, in front view in TFig. 3 and in side view or section in Figs. l to 7. lt comprises a back bar 116 and a number of parallel fingers 117 extending rearwardly from the bar and consisting preferably of thin plates or strips. ln order to give these firm support as they slide forwardly and backwardly they may be engaged in a series of grooves at the underside of the fixed cross bar i2 of the machine frame. Fig. 10 shows a suitable arrangement, the bar being grooved, and the lingers held in the grooves by a plate 122 attached beneath. lWhen the comb is in its normal or receiving position, as in Figs. 4, and 6, the rear extremities of the fingers rest upon the fined cross bar 41 of the machine frame, this bar having an inclined surface 118 'to insure the fingers coming tov proper place.V Two or more of the fingers 117 may have a flanged or burred edge 119, as shown in Fig. 9, so that as the comb withdraws forwardly these rough edges will impose friction and tend to draw the successive blanks forwardly to a uniform position. The endmost fingers 120 of the comb 115 are slightly wider than the others and are adjustable along the back of the comb by screw and slot devices 121 so that the comb can be adapted to blanks of different length.

ln order to insure the proper vertical alignment of the stacked blanks a gage or stop finger 123 is shown, o-r rather a plurality of them, as seen in Figs. el, etc. lWhen the receiving comb shifts forwardly after receivinga blank it tends to draw the blank forwardly until the front edge of the blank contacts the gages 123. This in connection with the endwise centering device, to be described, gives exactly the same position for all blanks. Each gage finger may be adjustable forwardly and backwardly by being attached to a small bracket 124 by means of an adjusting screw device 125, the bracket 124e being attached at the front side of the fixed cross bar 12, indicated in lfigs. 2, e, etc.

rllie actuation of the receiving comb 115 is merely a forward withdrawing movement from underneath the received blank and at the proper time a restoring rearward movement above the blank, in position to receive relance 4the next blank. rl`hese movements may be secured in various ways. The back bar of the comb is shown of square form, the

being continued through the guiding slot of the slotted extension 127 of each sic.' castiiig` 40. rl`he actuation may be deriveei from a cam disk 123 mounted at the left enf.l of the shaft all. This cam disk is former. with a cam groove 129 of generally ova?. form having a concentric portion g followed by eccentric portions 7L and .ln Fig. 7 the comb is forward and the cam portion is about to come into play to move the comb rearward where it will remain unil again moved forward the cam portion 7L. 'lhc cam groove is engaged by a follower or roll 130 mounted on a slide bar 131, which ei;- tends foi vvardly and at its front end is connected by a link 132 with a lever 133 that etrltends upwardly and at its upper end is connected by a link 134e directly with the end of the back bar 116 of the receiving comb. liever 133 and .link 134 are duplicated at the two sides of the machine and are connected by a cross shaft 135 to which both the levers 133 are connected and which forms their fulcruin. rfhis shaft is shown surrounded by the hollow connecting shaft 94', already mentioned. rllhus the comb maintained in proper position during it forwarr and rearward movements. Th amount of throw of the comby may be adjusted by means of the stud 136 on the link 132 and slot 137 in thn lever 133.

rlhe depressing comb 1&0 comprises a back bar 1li. and a series of lingers 142 which rst extend downwardly from the front side of the bar and then rearwardly, as indicate l in 2, 3 and i to 7. The fingers leQ are. alternated in position with the fingers 117 of the receiving comb and owing to the drop arrangen'ient or dip of the depressing lingers the receiving fingers are enabled to withdraw from beneath the blank and reH turn above 'tno blank and above the dc pressing lingers, but beneath the back bar of the depr s vsing comb, so that when the receiving comb is .in place the deoressin cond.: and lingers may freely rise, the receiving comb lioldi down the depressed blanks.

lilith the depressing fingers 142 are shown two fi ers of shorter length and bent downwardly at a different point m the main lingers. rlhis enables these lingers to clear the blank gage 123 already ment T he shortened rearsfar d extent o; fingers enables them to clear the fee-d 97 when the feeder bar comes forward.. depressing comb also has, near ends pair of downwardly flanged special. lingers 144, as best seen in ligs. 2 and These iin- ,cers dip slightly lower than the main lingers and the tw flanges are arranged to straddle the wider fingers 120 of the rehold down the ends of the blanks.

' in Fig. 6.

somewhat thicker, having a tendency to bend up and cause interference with the feeding and stacking operations. rEhe double iialnged depressing fingers 144 snugly These fingers 144, like the iingers beneath them, are adjustable longitudinally by screw and slot devices 145 so as to adapt them for blanks of varying lengths.

Having now described the depressing comb 140 and its three diiferent kinds of ngers, a convenient mode of actuation of the comb will now be described. The depressing comb is required to move vertically and for this purpose the squared ends of the back of the comb are guided and slide in the space between the two upstanding projections 146 of the side castings 40. The actuation is from the cam disk 85, which is provided with a peripheral cam 147, best seen r1`he disk may be circular and the cam may be a separate piece attachable as shown by screw and slot devices 148 so that the cam can be peripherally adjusted in'order to alter the timing. The circular periphery of the disk 85 may constitute the first portion of this cam, corresponding to the elevated position of the comb, as seen in Figs; and 5, this being followed by an elevated portion 7c which corresponds with a partly depressed condition of the comb, as in Fig. 6, and a more elevated portion Z which brings about the complete depression of the comb, as in Fig. 7 lt will be noticed that there are cam disks 85 and cams 147 atV both sides of` the machine, these working in exact unison to throw upwardly and downwardly the two ends vof the depressing comb. Each cam is engaged by a follower or roll 149 indicated in Fig. 6. This roll is attached at the rear end of a lever 150 centrally fulcrumed at 151. The forward end of the lever is connected by link 152 to one Aend of the 'back bar 141 of the depressing comb. By this arrangement the comb, normally elevated as in Figs. 4 and 5, is caused to be partly depressed asin Fig. 6, contacting on topof the blank B and, afterthe withdrawal of the receiving comb, as in Fig. 7, further depressed to carry the blank' below the level of the receiving comb, so that the latter can return to the Fig; 4 position above the blank, and the depressing comb raised to its initial position.

'ihe centering devices Aof this inventionV may take the form of upright plates, strips or gages 154, seen in Figs. 2 and 3 and in detail in Figs. 11, 12 and 13. Each of the centering gages may extend downwardly, as shown, and at its lower end be formed withl iianges or feet'155 which aresupported upon the fixed cross plate 43 previously mentioned. The two centeringl ,f fagesv are intended to be simultaneously moved toward and from each other, and to permit this movement each of them is mounted upon a guide bar 156 which engages directly upon the frame plate 43. The longitudinal sliding connection between the two bars and the plate is indicated in the bottom view of Fig.' 11 in the form of pin and slot devices 157. rlhe two guide bars 156 are in align'- ment and are constantly drawn' toward each other by spring 158. l

1t is necessary to adjust symmetrically the centering gages 154 to adapt them to blanks of varying lengths and for this purpose a pin and slot connection 159 is shown for securing each gage to its guide bar 156. rThis adjustment corresponds with the already described adjustment of the extreme fingers of the respective combs, which fingers must be adjusted in a manner to avoid interferenc'e with the centering gages.

ln order to edect simultaneous'endwise movements of the centering gages theiry guide bars 156 are provided with pins 160 extending downwardly through the frame plate 43 as indicated in Fig. 11. @ne pin is shown for each guide bar and the two pins are shown as engaging the forked ends of two short levers 161 which are pivoted adjacent to each other and interconnected by gears 1621 By actuating one of the plates the two will move simultaneously. actuation may be effected' through another' pin 163 extending downwardly from one of the guide bars, the same-engaging a swinging lever 164 having a fixed fulcrum at 165, the rearward extension of the lever carrying a cam roll 166 engaging' a cam167 on the shaft 44. rl`he roll maybe adjustable,y as indicted in Fig. 11, and the cam is'shown' as having a dwell m and two operative inclines a and 0T, which serve at kthe proper time, imk mediately after a blank has been deposited str nib

on the receivingv comb, to allow the centerj ing gages, pulled by the spring' 158, to ap` preachv symmetrically, lightly contacting the ends of the blank and thereby positioning it centrally.

The blank thus being' positioned endwise by the centering gages and in the other di rection'b-y the gages 123 is in readiness to be depressed and hunched or stacked with the preceding blanks. The' stack of blanks B is indicatedas resting upon ay stacker plate or support 170, which is capable ofv receding as the stack increases.k The stacker plate 170 is shown as havingr attached be'- ne'ath it near each end a' guide block 171 which runs'` along' a fixed guide plate 172.` The' block 171 is shown as having a? forwardly extending portion or finger17d:byV which the stacke'nniay be bodily depressed when it is desired to release' or"ren1'o've the" raisers l 'n the cam portion 86e. rllhe feed pins 97 are down. rlllie receiving comb 115 is back,

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tack of blanks. The plate 170 may be held p bv means of rods 117i which. entend downward from its under side, passing l the cam dwell 129g being in effect throngh sleeves 1?*5. ln order to support The depressing combl la() is. held elevated yieldingly the plate 170' springs 17o' through the cam portion 11i-71. p ig; '1 guimgnnding the rods and ln the interval between the positions of loosely tlirdngh the sleeves lligs. 4t. and .5 the feeder bar moves fully i l?? cionstitute abats: i f ard, through cam 8U, carrying the l r en'ls of the springs and gin forward upon the receiving comb lV ,f r ends of the rods. By this a1y i still in its rearward position. The went t er bar has fully descended in 5,

causes the gradual yield oi and when the required number o 1 1 T Fn has seen reeefveo` ne linger lie may sed i'nannally to permit their ei;-

, t 1, 1 f: as a guide lor the front side or for the descending uga cam 55C, and is in readiness to reeive the subsequent blank, its lowered position simplifying the restoration of the feeder bar above the presser bar without disturbing the blank.

ln the interval between the positions of ig. and F ig. 6 the feeder bar moves back, l cam 86% where it dwells 'through cam 86d, and in Fig. G is above the new blank. As the feeder bar moves back the switch cam 108 lifts the feed pins so as to clear the new blank. The feed pins have again dropped in Fig. 6. ln this interval the presser bar has risen and in Fien 6 is fully up, squeezing the; blank` forcibly against depres fraction.

i tacker plate and fo anni of blanks is shown a pair of strips These two may be connected by a hori- MTSU-gn ,mi n we we tal strip 179 so as to vform a gate, which is shown pivoted at its upper extremity to the fined braciret 125, with a spring 3,80 iiressine upon the gate, tenoing to throw it forward. A simple latch device 181 is shown for holding the gate in its closed position as in F 1t. ln extracting the blanks this latch will be released and the til@ hel flel' ba?, epeseeflby @am gage Swug {www5-, time?, the gat@ js portion 551. During the lifting of the presser bar the smoothingl plates 67 and 68, which are separated in lFiO. 5, are brouffht together as in Fig. 6. The receiving comb has not yet started forward, but in this interval the centering gages 151i have moved toward each other and apart, centering the blank endwise, through the action of cam surfaces 167 and 167, the dwell 167m hold ing the gages apart for the balance of the cycle. Also the depressing comb has moved down upon the blank on the receiving comb 'lirough cam portion 147", but it will not have contacted the blank until after the centering devices have operated. Cam portion 149 is a dwell, and in Fig. 6 the depressing combis pausing in this position.

ln the interval between the positions of Fig. 6 and F 7 the parts remain as described with the exception that the receiving comb has moved forward, through cam 125), during the pause in the descent of the depressing comb, followed immediately by the complete descent of the depressing comb, through cam portion 1471. rlhis lowers the blank below the level of the receiving comb and stacks it with the blanks that have preceded it. luring all this time the succeedblank remains under pressure.

ln the interval between the positions of Fig. l? and Fig. 4 the receiving comb, through cam 129i, moves rearwardly to its position over the previous blank and in readiness to receive a new one, while the dcpressing comb, starting upwardly after the receiving comb has moved back, rises to its initial position, leaving clearance for the feeder bar to move under it in bringing the closed its upright strips 1TB form a downward continuation of the guide lingers 128, the two acting to guide the blanks downward in proper alignment. as shown in S the stacker plate 170 may be adjusth able in length by means of separate end pieces 182 having screw and slot connections 183 with the plate.

The sequence of operations may be somewnatvaried but herein, according to the timing of the several cams 55, 86, 108, 129, 1-1-7 and 167, the operations may be sub` stantially as follows: lt has been explained that the mechanism of the present attachment is timed in harmony with that of the main machine, namely, by the original disposition of the gears ab, 46 and a?. rl"he templet 23 is shown elevated so that the operator may readily detach the folded blank thereon and by the time he is ready to place it on the presser bar 50 the feeder bar GO will have moved forward to the Fig. 5 position. rlliis is the essential relation between the main machine and the attachment. it the same time that the folded blank is shifted from the templet to the presser bar the operator may place a new unfolded blank on the bed. ln this way three blanks are being operated on at once, as the preceding blank is being disposed in the stacking mechanism.

Figs. l, 2, 3 and l show the parts in that stage of operation which may be described as follows: rlhe presser bar 50 has descended to its half way position, cam 55"L in effect. The feeder bar 60 is still above the presserl bar and about to be moved forwardly,

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succeeding blank to the receiving comb. During this period also the presser bar descends part way so that the feeder bar may start forward. This completes the cycle of operations.

It will thus be seen that there has been described a folding machine for collar and cufll blanks comprising the main machine and an attachment, embodying the principles and attaining the advantages of the present invention. Many matters of arrangement, combination, design, mode of operation and detail` can be reversed or modified in many ways without departing from the underlying principles and it is therefore not intended to limit the inven'- tion lto such matters except in so far as specified' in' the appended claims.

What is claimed is: Y

1. In a folding machine, mechanism for supporting, defining and infolding the edges of blanks, a lower member adapted to receive the successive infolded blanks after disengagement from the supporting, defining andiiifolding mechanism, an upper member above' the lower member, said members fitted for relative approach` and recession of oneof them to squeeze and then release each blank and relative lateral movement of one of them-to bring said members intoan'd out of operativerelation, andy means for actuating the infoldiiig mechanism and saidmen'iber's in coordination.

2. Machine as in claim-1 andfwherein the, lower member'is arranged flatwise and fitted to rise and descend, andthe upper' member is fitted to move to and from a position over the lower member.

y 3. Machine as in claim 1 and wherein the lower member is arranged flatwisey and fitted to rise fand descend, and the upper member is fitted to move to and'from a position over thelower member, and tov feed the pressed blank'y from the lower' member whenv moving therefrom. f l y 4;. Machineas in claim 1 and wherein the lower member lis arranged fla'twise and fitted* .member and stacking the same under pressure, and means for actuating thestacking device in coordination with said members.

5. In combination with a machine containinga blank dening'templet, folding mechanism,and an operating shaft, anattached supplemental mechanism lcomprising' a flatwise presser member independent ofl said templet and foldingmechanism, a laterally shiftable feeder member thereover adapted .to cooperate with the presser member in squeezing the blank and then to feed the blankfrom the presser member, means for receiving pressed blanks fed by the feeder member' from. the presser member, and an actuating shaft for the pressing and feeding movements, geared in coordination with vthe blank lies between them to crease the infolds thereof. v

7. Mechanism as in claim" 6 and wherein the upper member has means whereby the lateral movement from pressingy position feeds the creased blank from the lower member.

8. Mechanism as in claim 6 and wherein the lower member is fitted to rise topress the blank against 'the upper member, and the upper member is iitt-ed tomove llaterally and to feed the blank fro-m the lowerA member.

9. In a creasing mechanism for infolded blanks the combination of a` presser bar arranged to receive and support an info'lded blank flatwise and to rise and jdrop, a feeder bar arranged above the presser bar to resist the upward movement in squeezing the in'- folds of the blank, and to shift away laterally and feed the blankfrom the'presser bar after pressing and return above the presser bar aftera new blank is in position.`

10'. The. combination of'claim 9 andwvhere-v in thepresser bar has means tooperate itA to descend partially after pressing VVandthere pause while ythe feeder bar shifts laterally away, and thenjtoqdescend further before the feeder bar returns.

ll. Tlie'j combination of claim 9 `and, wherein the presserbar operatesto descend" partially after pressing and there pause while the feeder bar shifts laterally away, and then to descend further before the'feedjer bar returns; and the feeder bar having depending means adapted to engage the pressed blank on the partially lowered presser bar but to clear the new blank'placed on the vfully lowered presser bar.

12. The mechanismy as in claim 6 and wherein the upper member is provided Awith depending means adapted toengage and re-v ino-ve the pressedblank from the lower member during the lateral shifting butv to avoid disturbing ya new blank when the upper member is restored. l

13. The combination of claim 9 `and wherein depending means are provided on the feeder bar adapted to engage `and feed each pressed blank from thepresser bar without disturbing the succeeding blank as the feeder bar returns. Y

14. The mechanism as in claim G and wherein the upper member has its operative surface provided with movable. smoothing plates, and means for causing said plates to approach as the blank receives squeezing pressure.

15. The combination of claim 9, and wherein the feeder bar has at its under surface a plurality of smoothing plates, and means to cause the approach of said plates as the pressure is applied to the blanks.

1G. The combination of claim 9, and wherein the feeder bar has at its under surface a plurality of smoothing plates, and means to cause the approach of said plates as the pressure is applied to the blanks, consisting of a cam operated by the rise of the presser bar.

l?. The combination of claim 9, and wherein the feeder bar has at its under surface a plurality of smoothing plates, and means to cause the approach of said plates as the pressure is applied to the blanks, consisting of a cam operated by the rise of the presser bar, said cam having.symmetrical inclines followed by dwells, wlth followers symmetrically connected with said smoothing plates.

18. The combination of claim 9, and wherein the feeder bar has at its under surface a plurality of smoothing plates, and means to cause the approach of said plates as the pressure is applied to the blanks, consisting of a cam operated by the rise of the presser bar to cause the mutual approach of the plates, and thereby slanted inward resultant movements relatively to the edges of the blanks.

19. The combination of claim 9 and wherein the feeder bar is provided with feed pins adapted to depend to the presser bar, the presser bar formed with grooves in which the pins travel, and means for lifting the pins to inoperative positions for the feeder bar return movements.

20. The combination of claim 9 and wherein the feeder bar is provided with feed pins adapted to depend to the presser bar, the presser bar formed with grooves in which the pins travel, and means for lifting the pins to inoperative positions for the feeder bar return movements, consisting of a switch cam arranged for the elevation of the pins on the return movement.

21. The combination of claim 9 and wherein the feeder bar is provided with feed pins adapted to depend to the presser bar, the presser bar formed with grooves in which the pins travel, and means for lifting the pins to inoperative positions for the Misere" feeder bar return movements, the presser bar' being operated between three positions, pressing position, a partly lowered position, with the feed pins in its grooves, and a further lowered position.

22. In a creasing mechanism for .infolded blanks the combination of a pressing mem ber and a feeding member, means for pressing them together to crease a folded blank between them, means for operating them so that the feeding member shifts the blanks laterally after each pressing, and a bunching device comprising a fiatwise receiving member upon which each blank is shifted, and a depressing member.

23. The lcombination of claim 22 and wherein is a longitudinally centering means acting after the receiving member receives a blank and before the. depressing member engages it.

24. The combination of claim 22 and wherein the receiving and depressing members consist of two combs with intermeshing lingers, so constructed that the fingers of the depressing comb may descend from above to below the receivingl comb, and means for actuating the combs whereby the depressing comb descends to the blank on the receiving comb and pauses, while the receiving comb withdraws from beneath the blank, the depressing comb descending further, and the receiving comb returning above the blank.

25. The combination of claim 22 and wherein the receiving and depressing members are adjustable in length for varying blanks.

26. The combination of claim 22 and wherein the receiving and depressing members are adjustable for varying blanks and a longitudinal centering means also adjustable for varying blanks.

27. The combination of claim 22 and wherein the receiving and depressing members consist of two combs with intermeshing fingers so constructed that the lingers of the depressing comb may descend from above toi below the receiving comb, and means for ac tnating the combs whereby the depressing comb descends to the blank on the receiving comb and pauses, while the receiving comb withdraws from beneath the blank, the depressing comb descending further, and the receiving comb returning above the blank; the receiving comb adapted to draw the blank along in its withdrawing movement until the blank comes to a positioning gage; and such positioning gage, acting to position each of the successive blanks before the second descent of the depressing comb.

28. The combination of claim 22 and wherein the receiving and depressing members consist of two combs with intermeshing fingers so constructed that the ngers of the depressing comb may descend from above to below the receiving` comb, and means for together With a downwardly yielding supactuating' the combs whereby the depressing port for a stack of blanks, arranged beneath, comb descends to the blank on the receiving and opposing the second descent of, the de- 10 comb and pauses, While the receiving comb pressing comb.

withdraws from beneath the blank, |the des In testimony whereof, I have afliXed my pressing comb descending further, and the signature hereto.

receiving comb returning' above the blank; GARRY J. DORMANDY. 

